is a voluntary partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the fenestration industry.
It is designed to assist consumers in the recognition of energy efficient
products and promote the environmental and economic benefits of these
products with the ENERGY STAR®
label and other program activities.
How
do products qualify for ENERGY
STAR®?
Consumer products (such as major appliances) receive the ENERGY
STAR® label when they exceed the minimum
federal energy consumption standards. These figures vary from product
to product.
How
do windows qualify for ENERGY
STAR®?
Window products qualify by meeting certain criteria set forth by the
National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).
All windows must be NFRC rated, certified and labeled for both U-factor
and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient as well as Visible Light Transmittance.
What
is a U-factor?
A U-factor measures the rate of non-solar heat transfer from one side
of the window to the other. Heat transfers to both heat loss out of
a living space during cold winter weather and non-solar heat gain into
a living space during hot summer weather. This energy transfer, measured
in BTUs, is know as conduction.
The lower the U-factor of a window, the higher it's R-value.
And
what is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient?
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient measures the amount of solar heat that
gets through a window. The lower the SHGC, the better a window is at
reducing heat gain, and in the end, the cooling costs that go along
with it.
What
is the NFRC?
The National Fenestration Rating Council is a non-profit, public/private
organization created by the window, door and skylight industry. Their
primary goal is to provide accurate information to measure and compare
the energy performance of window, door or skylight products.
What
are those qualifications?
The program has established three climate regions with one recommended
product designation for each.
Northern Region Criteria
- Windows must have a U-factor rating of 0.35 or below.
Central Region Criteria
- Windows must have a U-factor rating of 0.40 or below. . .
- With a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.55 or below.
Southern Region Criteria
- Windows must have a U-factor rating of 0.75 or below. . .
- And an SHGC of 0.40 or below.
What's
so special about Alside Low E Argon Window Systems?
 |
Since
70% of a window is glass, real energy savings come from improved
glass performance. |
LoE2 Glass and Argon Gas significantly improves
energy efficiency and cuts the damaging effects of the sun by an additional
84% over clear glass products.
 |
In winter, it lets in maximum free solar heat and
helps hold warm air inside, increasing R-value by an extra 104% |
 |
In summer, an additional 47% solar heat gain coefficient helps
cut air conditioning costs.
|
How
do Low E Argon windows save you money?
- The average household spends over 40% of its annual energy budget
on heating and cooling.
- Alside Windows with Low E Argon can reduce those bills by up
to 15%.
- Low E Argon Package helps
cut the amount of fossil fuel used while helping reduce air pollution,
smog and global warming.
Why
is this so important to our country and our world?
If all residential windows in the U.S. were replaced with ENERGY
STAR® compliant products. . .
- We would save $7 billion in energy costs over the next 15 years.
- The reduction in carbon emissions would be the same as taking 336,000
cars off the road.
- We could preserve 142,000,000 acres of trees over the next 15 years.
Why
is ENERGY
STAR® so important to Alside?
This recognition is granted only to the most advanced, energy-efficient
products on the market.
Watch for the ENERGY STAR®
logo popping up on all of the following products. . .
- Consumer appliances
- Light fixtures
- Computer Equipment
- Windows
. . .any item that offers superior efficiency in the conservation of
energy.
Why
is ENERGY
STAR® so important to you?
- It means you'll have the opportunity to increase the energy saving
benefits of Alside Low E Argon Windows.
- You can enjoy the knowledge that you're helping to make a positive
impact on your environment.
For more information
about ENERGY STAR® and other energy savings related activities
and opportunities:
www.energystar.gov
www.efficientwindows.org
www.nfrc.org
